14 May 2010

The Process Pledge

Response to my post on mutant quilting has been really cool. It seems I'm not alone in my interests and concerns.

I have made a process pledge. The goal of the process pledge is to create a new sensibility in quilting blogs where we don’t just show finishes or occasionally confess about our moments of indecision, but chat openly and often about our works in progress, our inspirations, and our moments of decision. I know that many of us are already posting about our thinking on quilts and the processes involved from start to finish, let's do more! And let's post about quilts as we work on them. I want to see more half-done quilts, not just the finished thing with a journal entry about the process.

I think part of the reason I really like the blogs from quilting bees is because a lot of the process gets documented...from original concept, to raw materials, to each block in turn, and often a few drafts of the final layout. It's awesome!

So, without further ado. Here's the process pledge. Take it, shake it, make it yours.

I, ________________, pledge to talk more about my processes, even when I can’t quite put them in the in words or be sure I’m being totally clear. I’m going to put my thinking and my gut feelings out there.

Put a button on your blog if you want to! (html at the bottom of this post)
Also, please add your blog to the link list so we all know who’s in.
If you are on Flickr but not blogging, enter the url for your photostream.

[Edited to add: if simply linked doesn't accept your information, please let me know in a comment and I will add you to the list. Include your blog's url or the url for your flickr account. I believe the error is generated by some people's firewalls or anti-virus software.]

I’ve made a list of prompts to get some process posts going. I will continue to update these prompts as time goes on, based on what I see in blogs, ideas that are submitted to me by email, and also in the comments.

Do you have any new sketches to show?

Is this design inspired by a past quilt or someone else's quilt you saw (link, please)?

Does the color palette come from somewhere specific?

Are you trying to evoke a specific feeling?

Is this quilt intended for a specific person? How did that inform your choices?

Are you following a pattern, emulating a block you saw somewhere, using a liberated process, or totally winging it?

What are you hating about this quilt at this stage? What do you love?

Did you push yourself to try something new?

In working on the quilt, are you getting ideas about what you might want to try next? What? Did you sketch it?

188 comments:

While the ability to do buttons and blogging is still newish for me, the quilting with scraps and the process is not. In my post, "My Homemade garden quilt", scrap fabric is put together without preconceived design. The quilt is based on three previous posts, Made Fabric, one, two and three. So is this the concept you are looking for? Then too, this quilt was not quick. It took awhile on my design wall from start to finish. The gratification of that process is priceless. It is much more gratifying than any quick quilt.

Your mutant post and a couple of others which also questioned the whole quilt blog process have been going round and round in my head with no clear answers coming out BUT the going round and round is good because it never occurred to me that quilting would make me think philosphically as well as colour and shape wise! I take the pledge and am taking the button too!

Wonderful... I don't write that much about quilts since I think the finish is the least interesting part of my process and a couple of people told me the process posts bored people... For me thats the part I want to talk about. By the time its done, I've moved on. I have done similar posting Wednesdays with my WIPs in a "workshop in progress" group that gives great feedback.

To follow up on Rachel's comments. I am never bored by someone's process posts, but maybe that's just me? I would rather see how people arrive at an end product than the end product itself. I also think it is inspirational because so many people have so many different processes along the way. It is fascinating to see how people work.

Maybe complaints about process posts come because people just post a photo of a pile of fabric or scraps or whatever with a comment about "here's what I'm working on?" There is no context or discussion.

It also brings up the question...what are blogs for? Who are they for?

Sure, some blogs are heavily commercialized and need to stick to a certain tone and topic--god forbid True Up ever dislike a new fabric line-- but for the most part, I think what is interesting is for people to talk about whatever is moving them at that moment.

And my goodness, people can scan right past things that bore them. No harm in that. I "page down" right past tons of posts on gardening, cooking meat, felting, sewing clothing, sewing bags, knitting, parenting...just not my cup of tea!

Ultimately, I think that what matters is that the blogger wants to photograph and chit-chat about process. And I think that many quilters who want to learn and grow also want to see these posts and write these posts.

I've been teaching arts and textile crafts for many years, and one of the most debilitating fears I had to overcome in my students was the ideas that they are not good enough and that they are not allowed to make mistakes.

It's so liberating to talk about the - very normal - "ugly parts" of the creative process!

Commercial blogs are great and can be inspiring, but often they're so awfully awe inspiring, too, so perfect...

It also often makes beginners (of any craft) believe that they'll never be able to do "that" because they aren't... can't... haven't got that secret sauce that it takes in order to ... (fill in blanks) - get miraculously and in a jiffy from 0 to 100.

And when you tell them that it is a process, they don't even believe you, think you're just being nice... And they keep believing in that secret sauce...

I am so inspired by this. My blog is pretty new and I am still finding my way and discovering what is naturally "me".

I love reading about the process. Sometimes I can relate to it, sometimes I can learn from it, sometimes I can skip it and sometimes I can be inspired by it. I love sharing about the process too, but I was feeling unsure that other people were interested. My family is attentive, but not necessarily interested. If you know what I mean.

I LOVELOVELOVE this! I'm fascinated by the process of creating - both Elizabeth and Jacquie have awesome contests going, asking to supply a random color/inspiration and they will create a quilt based on it. I can't wait to follow them on it.

I agree - I love seeing how/why things are created and as they evolve. I'll do more of it as well!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1415625@N22/ -- I like the concept of incorporating it into blogs, too. I joined {Brainstorming} to encourage myself to prize the process equally as much as what is produced!

Awesome! I'm much better at actually doing something if I am held accountable publically... lol. I love the thought of sharing more of the process. I worry so much before cutting into the fabric. I like the process of researching a style of quilt etc in preparation of making a quilt.

This is something I have been doing on and off. Inspired by this recent conversation I am taking the pledge, and will be motivated to keep up sharing the process. Like Kate says, it will not always apply, but I will do my best!

This has been on my mind for so long. Of course I love seeing the finished project, but I love the whole process and everything about quilting. I love this idea! I grabbed a badge and it's on my blog. Thanks!

I've taken the pledge, too, but I do mostly my writing in Norwegian these days, so I was kind of worried when I put my link up there. Then again, I might document my processes by writing a short summary in English, - the google transelation does not always justify the writing style ;-)

Thank you for pointing this out for me and make me look at the documentation of the process as with important value for our time and the time after us.

Pledged! Linked! Participating! Life is ALWAYS about learning. What you learn really becomes your own when it is shared. Articulating the process benefits all who want to learn but especially the doer. I'm very happy to be part of the learning process. I started out wanting it all, leap frogging my way thru trends and fads but really just amassing quilts: quantity. 8) Took my breath away, literally. Now my breath is taken away by quality. To get that requires careful attention to process. Holding my breath in the 'what if...'. Breathless at the results. And I'm luving it WAY more!

So very much agree! The process is at least as valuable to me as the product because it's so very instructive. As a blogger, I really enjoy sharing the process and acknowledging "this is where I'm at". It helps me celebrate each step rather than fixating on the end product.

I pleged, I linked, and I'm not even a "modern" quilter! I love this idea, and while I don't think this was remotely suggested, I think modern quilters and traditional quilters are not at odds, and that we do have much to teach each other. Count me in. Let me enjoy looking at your quilts, finished or in progress, let me understand your thought process as you build your quilt, and I'll do the same. While I really do want to get some quilts on the beds in my home, the process... the journey... that's far more important than a photo of "look what I finished." I love to put needle and thread to fabric, and I want to be around other people who find this as enjoyable as I do, no matter what style they are using, or how many (or few) years they have graced the planet.

Wow, I think this is a great idea! I've just been thinking the same thing! I'm currently reading The Gentle Art of Quiltmaking and I was thinking about how nice it is to read about the author's process in choosing fabrics and designs for each quilt, to learn about why some fabrics didn't make it into the quilt, etc. I realized that I rarely actually read about that in books or on blogs nor do I write about that. I feel some sort of obligation to show finished projects. And one of the problems I consistently have is allowing myself to slow down and enjoy the process. I'm definitely going to join in on this and thank you for suggesting it!

Thanks again, Rossie, for the most excellent reason to pause and think about this thing (blogging, online crafting, blog reading) that I spend so much of my life doing. Or thinking about doing. I forget to enjoy the process - I know I do. And there's joy and artistry there, I think. And creativity. Pledge taken and thanks.

What a fabulous idea this is. I am more about the process than the product, no question. My ideas book is usually overflowing and, as I do mostly everything by hand, I absolutely love the process as opposed to trying to have a finish to show.

Hi Rossie, I've just written a process post which will appear on my blog in a few days. It took me sooo long! Its so much harder than just saying - here's a quilt I made, what do you think? Hopefully people will find it interesting and not too boring. Maybe I'll figure out a way of sharing my processes that doesn't take so long (working full time having 2 toddlers doesn't leave much left for blogging). Thanks so much for encouraging me to move out of my comfort zone and share a little more.

Funny I've been doing this with the project I'm currently trying to finish for a quilters guild talk, sketches and all, but unfortunately as it's the theme quilt for the talk I'm not showing to many photos of the current process or how things developed until after the talk in early June.I love this idea and will link to my blog tonight.

I just posted my first process post, more asking advice than explaining my process. There's always so much I could say about process because I'm such an overthinker in every way, but I usually don't take pictures of the interim steps. This would definitely give me more to blog about though, because I have much more in progress than finished work to show. Thanks for the challenge and for pushing us on to be better quilters.

Timely. As in "cosmic-trippy" timely. I was thinking about this recently. I thought maybe I should stop posting about my process and all the permutations I go through. Maybe folks just want to see the grand finishes. I seriously was considering making a full-on change. But I was interested in this button I noticed on Janet's (Quiltsalott) blog so here I am. And boy am I glad I arrived. I'm "all in."

Dear Rossie, I was attracted by your button in a blog I have never visited before and followed you here, and wow! You said what I have been struggling with and discussing with my blogging friends ever since I started blogging in Febr. ( So I am not surprised Janet and Karendianne are already here! LOL) Blogging can be such a wonderful medium for us to grow as quilters and be encouraged and grow in our craft! Bravo to you! and Bravo to us!Yeah!Valentina in Cyprus

Hi! I love this idea! For a while now I have tried to keep only posts of the finished project as I take a long time to get things done and if a person saw a particular quilt say 4 or 5 years ago, by the time I finish it; they snoot at it! Anyhow, I love my blog as I control what I say and not too many people comment so it is as if I am talking to my mom! I talk to my kids about the process of the quilt to death! Now I have another outlet!! Thanks!

I generally post two things - EQ6 "plans" (that often aren't completed) and finished quilts (or at least finished tops). This is bad for me because I let myself get sucked into a cycle of "I have nothing to post, I feel bad, I should make something, but I don't feel like sewing because I feel bad, so I have nothing to post." Maybe if I focus on the process, both in blogging and in real life, I'll be better at finishing. Either way, I'm sure to enjoy it more with less pressure to finish. I actually like the process, so why not celebrate it? Thanks for this discussion.By the way, am I complete dork that I did a little happy dance when I was number 42 (Douglas Adams fans, unite!)?

This is great! I would love to see how others formulate their ideas. We can all learn so much from one another!

I'm learning to keep a pad of paper and pencil around for when a design pops into my head. My last quilt was completely at a whim. No planning. I blogged about it here. http://paisleyandlace.blogspot.com/2010/05/modern-quilt.html But my next one is coming to life on a piece of paper first. Modern quilting is indeed so much fun.

Rossie, Good for you! I've been blogging for 5-1/2 years and started because I needed to look at the process as I was in it. People always see what I am doing while I am doing it because I need to see it on the screen. I started blogging as a think-out-loud and if you look back to my first posts in Jan '05, you'll see. SO happy you all are joining me in this process.(although I must admit there's a lot of other stuff in between).Come and visit!Rayna

I'm joining in . . . I think it's a great idea! I don't consider myself to be a modern quilter, but I quilt a LOT, and I've been sharing lots of "process" on my blog as it is. The thing about this more formal approach is . . . it'll not only be good for others to see and possibly learn from, it'll be good for me to look back on as my process may evolve. How can it be a bad thing? Love the prompts you've provided -- looking forward to more of those.

happy to take the pledge as I really feel the process is just as important to me as the finsihed product.can you change the title of mine to read my blog namesorry about thatthanksKathie http://inspiredbyantiquequilts.blogspot.com/

I discovered the Process Pledge just yesterday, took it, grabbed a badge and joined the list above. Blogging about my process is not new for me. About a year ago I began blogging as I go through many of my quilts, posting EQ6 and handwritten sketches, talking about my design plans, changing my mind, posting photos of nearly every step. For a couple of early quilts I posted almost daily, which was fun. I could hardly wait to run downstairs and write about what I just did.

Lately it seems I've been posting a couple of long posts at major finishing points. Aware of potentially boring some readers, I post the finished top, then backtrack and show how I got there, repeating the photo of the finished top at the end of the post. The next post might be a photo of the finished quilt, backtracking and coming forward to the finish. The posts take a long time to compose. I may go back to more frequent, shorter posts.

I'm in a large Yahoo quilting group, and recently a couple of members commented that they enjoyed reading about the process, so that helps. I feel validated. Thanks, Rossie!

I thought I had submitted my link earlier but don't see it yet so I'll try it again. The majority of my posts are about the steps I take in creating each new piece. I've added the button; this will keep me aware and perhaps I'll share even more.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! A thousand thank yous! I really needed someone to help me through the process of adding a button - and you did it! My blog will now be so much m ore interesting with these!

And I am so for the 'process' idea- check out my blog for little bits of things I am working on.Suz

I have never been a fast Quilter. Spend too much time fondling fabric and I like to have as much colour in my quilts as possible. The more scrapp the better. To me making a quilt is a Journey to be enjoyed and remembered.CheersLynne

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I'm in! I only started to quilt a year ago and really benefit when someone more experienced shares the process and even the mistakes. What it comes to my own blog I found it much more interesting to write about the process than just show the results.

Hello! I came across this blog through DaintyTime (Sherri Lynn Wood's blog) through (I think) CRAFT magazine. I do a lot of textile crafts, mostly dressmaking, but inspired by all the great quilts and home textiles I've seen, and ideas like this, I started my first quilt the other day...and another today! Oh dear. I'd like to add my blog and get a button for my own but I am not solely a quilting blog: this is a new idea for me but I'm excited that there's such a huge community out there: what do you think?

I talk about process all the time in my blog, Artquiltmaker.com/blog. It started because I felt like I was being too goal oriented and not enjoying the process enough. It is good for me to see what I was thinking about when I was working on a project. I have post on basting and starting to quilt coming up on Saturday.

I'm been meaning to come back and do this for a long time, but I keep forgetting. I rarely show a finished quilt because as soon as I finish a top I am on to the next project. I am all about the process and definitely design as I go. I usually try to write about the process, because I am so slow to actually finish a project -- LOL. But I'm back to join the fun :)

I entered my name above but it didn't appear, so if you can add me to the list, that would be great! My blog name is OCD: obsessive crafting disorder adn my link in www.ocd-obsessivecraftingdisorder.blogspot.com

I've just started quilting a few months ago, and I'm not the greatest blogger. I tend to show the finished project, but, I want to start putting the process here more. So I'll start taking my camera upstairs when I go up to sew, and I'll start processing! Thanks for doing this - I learn so much from everyone else. I've put your button on my page! :-)

Good Morning.What a neat idea. I am looking forward to seeing and reading about what others are working on and the process they are taking. :o)My blog has been a mish mash of thoughts and ideas, so this will be fun to concentrate even more on the steps of quilting. :o)Have a great day.Sincerely ~ Trish

I joined up and the button is on my blogg!My blogg is quite new and I'm learning every day.Most of my quilts are my own design and I will work on how to share my thinking with you.I'm looking forward to follow your blogg! Margreth

I have tried several times on different days to post a link and it's just not happening. Please add me to your list. :) Thanks so much!StephanieSeaSteph's Creationhttp://seastephscreations.blogspot.com/

I started my blog a year ago just for this reason - to have a running journal of my process. Not only has it helped other quilters - but its helped me stay motivated and on task. Also I can see how a voice in my work is emerging which is rather cool! This pledge is just another wonderful way to hook up like thinking minds! Thanks!!

I love this idea! I agree that reading other people's processes is so much fun!! and so much inspiration. Now that I know I'm not the only one I dont' feel so badly with my confusing instructions.. Hey, I always include lots of pictures too which is everyone's best part!~

I've only been quilting for the last year, and I recently started blogging about my work, but this idea about revealing the process really appeals to me. I have noticed on a lot of blogs the tendency to post finished pieces, and while they're beautiful and give me something to look up to, I think I'm inherently more interested in the process, and I like knowing more about the thought process and trial and error of a project. I recently noticed the link to the process pledge on a few blogs I read, and I was really excited to read more about it. I added took the pledge and added it to my blog today :)

I added my name to the process pledge even though I am not a quilter because I do love reading about how people handle ideas and work through problems. This is brilliant! So if it isn't OK, I guess you'll just take my name off?

I have always done this on my blog. I find that it helps me get things done if I know that my readers will be back next week to check up on my progress. I Don't generally do sketches, but will post them when I do.

This is a great idea, as I do love to see how others progress through their work. Very inspiring. And yes, please post your errors and challenges. Very good for the soul to know that everyone else out there is human and not perfect machines.

Thank you! Thank you! I am very grateful to you for opening it up about the whole process of putting a quilt, from start to finish.I am a very very green, lime green quilter. I love to start my first quilt, but I was scared, finally I could not stand it any longer. I thought that I was going to spend maybe two hours at the fabric store. Wrong! It took me 5 hours, and I am still itching that I have to come back and grab a few more fabrics. Your thinking process makes it real, and I applaud you for it. A very grateful lime green quilter.

This is a fantastic idea. I'm always interested in the process of why and how a quilt is designed. I submitted my link a few days ago, but didn't get on the list.Next Step Quilt Designshttp://www.nextstepquiltdesigns.blogspot.com/

I love to write, and usually/probably give TOO MUCH info on process and how I've been inspired, but that's what it's all about for me. I just linked (Fiberexplorations), and would love to put the pledge button on my blog, but I'm not sure how. (I'm admitting my technological inexperience here!) I tried pasting the code in as a "gadget," but it was rejected as for being in an "incorrect format" or something. Please help!

I just found your blog through another blog, and I love it! I don't just make quilts (ahem, I've only made one quilt), but you seem like you'd be happy for other crafters to take the process pledge too!

The timing just seems so right - after working on a friends quilt and & discovering a new approach with border fabrics I realized what I have been missing & avoiding because of thinking it would get messed up...I had so much fun hashing out the details before cutting & learning something new and knowing it will be applied to my own projects in the future. So I took your pledge and added the button to my blog too...

Great idea to take a process pledge. Sharing helps us learn something new everyday! It's all about opening up and sharing our talents with everyone. I am currently participating and sponsoring Project Quilting. Love it!

Just started quilting and blogging about it, so I love the Process Pledge. It will be especially insightful to get some ideas on (virtual) paper and see how they develop and mutate into the end result.

Maybe it's just me, but I've never thought that anyone would especially care about my "process". Thanks for planting the idea and now my little blog boasts one of your buttons. Would you please add me to your list as it doesn't appear simply linked liked me much...http://imperfectmom2two.blogspot.com

Hey - here's my first post after I saw your "process pledge". What a great idea you had. Now I'm dying to go read the blogs of all the other folks who are on board. Thanks. http://stitchingtimes.blogspot.com/2011/03/process-beach-quilt.html.

I found this link through another quilter's blog and clicked on it out of curiosity. I'm glad I did. I vowed, with the start of my new blog, to relax and enjoy the process. I see that I'm not alone! I still get that niggling in the back of my mind that I'm not getting things done fast enough, but now I'm fighting those thoughts back. I will enjoy the process, and if that means 20 posts of the same quilt in progress...so be it!

I think this is great. I had started having a 'my notes' section so this pledge will add to that commitment. I guess the reason why we blog is to learn from our fellow quilters and creative circle. So good on ya!

Piece o' Cake since I am always yammering on about process anyway! I'm just starting a big one for a gift that has to be a design surprise but I can talk about how I get there as I go along. Glad to be a part of this.

I was a high school visual arts teacher. We were always banging on about "its the Process... NOT the Product" to the students. Nice to see the quilt world is taking this on....its THE WAY...if creative juices are to flow. Otherwise its painting by numbers in a different medium. Nice Blog.

The process pledge is a great idea. I personally find it very interesting to be given a glimpse into how someone got to the end result. Because it takes real effort to document a process, much more than to show a finish product, this type of post is less frequent. When I started blogging, I ingenously put real effort into explaining how I did things. It was rewarding to find out, by analyzing the traffic on my blog (wtritten in Spanish because I now live in Spain and there is little quilting content on the blogospehere compared to English), that the "how to" posts were most attractive. Yet, just a few weeks later, I discovered that my tutorial posts (and other people's) were often switfly and integrally copied, by people who do not even bother quoting the source. So called "farm contents" know that "how to" posts drive traffic, but they have no expertise in writing anything, so they steal hundreds of posts in the time it takes an honnest quilter to write only one, and then show higher in search results. This happens too with amateur quilters who want to quickly beef up their blog contents, care little about copyright issues, and cited the source as "a friend" who's never heard of them.This phenomenon is not limited to tutorial posts, but it is particularly acute in that case, and since these posts take so much time to write, it really makes me mad when I find a copy elsewhere. The only "protection" I have found so far is to mark the photos with my website name, but it is a pain in the neck to do, and it somewhat ruins the aesthetics - and in no way prevents the copying. This has discouraged me quite a bit. I'd be interested to know how other quilters (or creative people in general) deal with this issue.

Aha! Now i know i am a process person and not a finished-product person! hence my blog on My Quilts - an Unfinished Business! i am beginning to see the light! Thank you! -Ivy Hoh 24 minute cook and quilter1

Hi Rossie,I'm IN will try to include 'the process'in my future posts, I always take pictures of the 'process' of my projects but never before thought anyone but me would be interested in them. Hopefully I have successfully linked to your list and I have added the 'Pledge' button to my blog - Monkey Business and QuiltsHappy stitchinLorraine

Hello Rossie! I have seen your button many times but I have to cenfess that being quite new in blogging as well as in quilting, I thought it's something for professonal and very experienced quilters. I'm happy that I came again to re-read your idea and I find it so great! Also I see now that I can join you because I love to take photos during the work and tell my thoughts and ideas about my creations! With my next post I'll add your button and I'm proud to be part of your group!Sunny sewing from Greece! Teje

Hi, it seems as if it make som trubles to list my blog.It says "Your link has been submitted." I´ll be happy if you would take a look and you are very velcome to visit my blog.I´d add the button to my sidebar.Thank you!

Great idea! We need more quilters! Funny I ran into this right after I scheduled tomorrow's blog on how to make a block. I am in the process of making a 2 sided quilt for my son and the block is part of the design. Thanks for thinking of this wonderful way to collect ideas and know-how on quilting! I'll post along the way to making this project. Happy quilting :)

"Oh wow!" is all I can say when seeing that list. I'm a newbie patchwork/quilter and to have so much great inspiration just waiting for me online is amazing. Can't wait to visit as many of the blogs as I can :D

Hello Rosie. I'm a little late in coming to this site. Just found it last night. There are A LOT of quilting blogs out there...nice to see. I put your "process pledge" on my site,sewthisisme.blogspot.com and posted there about my approach to your initial idea. What I started with was getting a handle on how many projects I've actually started or want to start. But your questions are asking more: what's the process, what's going on in the process. Kinda of like following people's creativity stream...how they get inspired or what drives them thru their projects, the bumps, the successes along the way. :-)

Do I have new sketches? no, but I have a sketch book, a quilting sketch book and a fashion sketch book where I draw ideas and make some of them, keep swatches of fabrics on different quilts I'm making, and keep a page of just solid colors with labels of what color they are, and notes on which colors I'm using.

I didn't intend this to be long... but briefly I am currently being inspired by Kaffe Fassett Museum Quilting Book and his process of gathering visual ques from the different displays and colors in the museum. :-)

I've seen this on so many quilters blogs, so I finally decided to check it out. I'm so glad I did! I sometimes like the process more than the finished product! Thanks so much for this great idea.vickie in cleveland

Hello Rossie!Like few before me, I am a bit late in coming to this post, since somehow I didn't discover your blog before...(ah, the cyber wanderings...), but I LOVE this idea! I actually started my blog recently mostly out of feeling that EXACT need - to write about the process!! Will be coming back to check your (and others) and joining in the fun! Thanks for a great badge! PS - check out few of my posts with this exact topic! (posts in Feb. and May):http://marijasfabricreations.blogspot.com/

Thank you for the inspiration of writing about the process and not just he product! I have linked my pledge from my blog at quiltmonsterinmycloset.blogspot.com, I hope I didn't register on your page twice, as I didn't get any type of confirmation, the first time and thought maybe I did it wrong. Thank you So much.. -Christine

Hi :-), I hope it is ok to link up now. I am very new to blogging and just finding my feet with quilting. Thanks so much for creating this awesome pledge. Makes me feel much more comfortable with waffling on about how I am going about my quilts, even when they aren't anything fancy just yet :-). I will keep up with how everyone is going and I definitely will appreciate being able to read about individual processes, much for me to learn (if that makes sense). Tanya x.

colchitasbonitas.blogspot.comThanks for creating this. That was really the point my my blog- to catalogue progress and growth, mainly so I can look at what I've done. Too often I feel like I get nothing done when really the progress is astounding. I proudly posted your link on my blog. Thanks again.

I linked to your pledge and failed to delete the http:/ at the beginning of my link... so... let's call this process pledging... with all the blunders!!!! hopefully you can delete that first http:/ or delete the whole thing and i will try again later ... sorry to do this to you at such a busy time x x x

The little sketch you have reminds me of the one I have sitting in front of me right now. It is for the back of a quilt I'm making (my second pieced quilt ever) and I wanted to do something patterned on the back like a lot of you seasoned quilters do (jump right in, why not?!) My math and squares, measurements all look like ancient cave drawings! But I can see how I want it layed out on the back and since I've been taking pictures along the way, I decided to take the pledge :) I don't think the simplylinked is accepting it though so here is my note.

I too posted the pledge to my blog and want to try harder to do the same! I love that you're a mechanical engineer and a quilter too. My son is in school to be a mechanical engineer, he is in his 3rd year and I love how he can fix almost anything for me. Love your blog!

I'd like to thank all of you for this pledge. As bloggers, you are also teachers, especially for new quilters and this will provide greatly needed information that is not getting out there. I understand discussing the process and loving the individual steps, but are you aware that by discussing it, you are showing new quilters that it exists? I am soooo tired of seeing quilts posted on the web that are simply 2 lengths of fabric with some batting between and a half dozen lines of quilting stitches. That's not a quilt, it's a moving blanket. (Yes, I understand that this might be the first quilt, but it should never be the first 100.) I get so distressed when I read of quilters who leave huge areas on their quilts unstitched and then surprise, the batting pulls away and lumps on the first washing or quilters who think you lay the top over the batting and then quilt. They are so confused about how to attach that backing.

For most of us, this is part of the process and we fail to realize that the instructions don't include so information. The instructions give you the fundamental steps, but assume that the reader will know what is missing. After all, it's just part of the process! Thank you for celebrating that process.

What a great idea. I stopped blogging for awhile, I could not come up with something fresh and different but your suggestions of showing and blogging about unfinished or works in progress is just what I needed.

I took a break right before all the "modern" quilt movement took off..back and happy to have your badge on my blog both in support and agreement..we all need to share our way of getting to our finished quilt. Celebrating all the many different paths is my point of view.

I've just taken pledge because I love detailing the processes I use - I do this to jog my own memory as well as to share because I have learnt so much from other blogs. Many thanks for the opportunity to share.

Happy to have found this, as I just started blogging about my quilting and crafting. Love that you brought this topic up, as it drives me crazy to see the end, but limited details on how the end result came to be.

I'm glad this is still around. I read this pwhen you first started doing this but when I saw the button recently on the blog of a quilter I follow, I realized it was high time to do more of this in my own blog.

I actually hope it will make my posts more succinct since I often try to sum up the process when I post a finish. I'm already charting the process in a journal so why not put some of that on the blog too?

I want to take the pledge, too, but only after you reread it and proof it and correct the wording (awkward extra word in there). The process pledge makes a lot of sense to me. Thinking of starting a blog myself but only when time allows me to do it justice. N

I LOVE THIS IDEA! Game on! I am so going to do this. People need help understanding that creating doesn't just HAPPEN. There is a whole concept and design phase that all projects go thru. Thank you for this idea!!!!

Just found your site and added the I took the pledge to my blog. Reading your blog was real synchronicity - Just two days ago I blogged about a book that you may know: Show Your Work which essentially had the same message: we learn so much from both the process and the product. Thanks for starting the pledge! Bonnie fiberandbooks.typepad,com Love your quilting!

I just left a $5.00 donation because I've been thinking so much about the Process Pledge and the questions you wrote to get people thinking about their work. You had a great idea to start this pledge. Thank you!

Hi - Love this idea - I am going to share it with us working with art journals. We journal to explore and it would be good to take a step back and think deeper into the process. I am hopeless at taking photos along the way so I will make it a priority